Jason Lee
California Basin Group
Review Questions III
19 Feb 01
#3. Choose either Iroquois religion or warfare
to describe generally and with some specific examples. Compare it to beliefs held today about those
two subjects.
As practically every culture’s
history, warfare played a large part of the Iroquoi nations in pre-Columbian
days. It was this constant fighting
that a solution for a peaceful exsistence was created by the founding of the
League of Iroquois (or Hodenosaunee).
This alliance among the original five tribes (later six as the Tuscarora
joined) resolved most of the disputes that would have previously caused wars
among the tribes. Although these people
lived in harmony with each other for the most part, any tribe that was alligned
with the league were considered enemies (Oswalt, p.425). Although the Iroquois were civilized, any
European or non-Iroquois “enemy” regarded them as vicious savages. This reputation was seeded by the not only
by their violent attacks on settlements but from the exaggerated descriptions
of the settlers that only grew as the news was passed on.
The Iroqouis were fierce and
merciless warriors who would raid villages and take prisoners. These prisoners were subjected to severe and
cruel forms of torture (Josephy, p.4)
They introduced scalping to the Europeans. They were also known practitioners of cannibalism, something that
was considered greatly taboo by Europeans who never incorporated that into
their means of warfare (Oswalt, p.422).
Prisoners could either be tortured sadistically until death or they
could be adopted by the tribe. The
judgement on a prisoner’s fate seemed in part to be decided by an Iroquois
widow who had lost her husband in the fight.
To be accepted for adoption, the prisoner had to run a gauntlet naked
while Indian women and children whipped them.
If the prisoner fell, he was executed.
But if he made it then he was to be accepted as an adopted member of the
tribe. The Iroquois were quite
proficient and ingenius when dealing with torture. Although Europeans used torture as a means for confession, the
Indians used it as a chance for a captive to prove his bravery before
death (Oswalt, p.425).
The formation of a war party was
always voluntary. Every man had a
choice on whether he wanted to participate in a raid. That is, unless his wife said no (Oswalt, p.425). But warfare is what made a name for an
Indian and in search of glory, he longed to be a great warrior and to prove his
value. The tools of a Iroquois warrior
consisted of war clubs, ax, tomahawks and bow/arrows. Parties would attack and raid villages with a loud war-whoop
cry. These parties were sucessful in
dominating every tribe in the area until their enemies aligned with the French
and were given guns. The Iroquois were
driven back and defeated time and again until the Dutch intoduced firearms to
them. This gave them the opportunity to
fight on even ground with these other tribes.
They were nearly successful in running the French off of the North
American continent.
Todays warfare has drastically changed
in some ways. No longer can warring
forces act in the ways that Iroqouis did. The Geneva Conventions now dictate the treatment a prisoner of war
will receive. By international standards,
torture is no longer allowed. Nor
is scalping or cannibalism. The military
Rules of Engagement clearly define what is or isn’t an enemy.
Although some countries may not have membership with Nato, they are
not considered as enemies. You are no longer allowed to take captive or
dead enemies belongings as souviniers. It
is illiegal for soldiers to rape women, although the Iroquois avoided not
because of law but because of spiritual point of views (Oswalt, p.423).
But soldiers all over the world fight wars that contain no order and
have no boundaries. Just because these things are considered illegal
and unethical doesn’t mean they do not exist today. Although the US and other countries claim to
avaoid tactics such as these. The
same style of fighting and warfare exists in some form or another throughout
the world.
Jeannie Costello
February 18, 2001
Review Questions 3
Dr. Nancy Omaha Boy
North American Indian
Question #3
The Iroquois religious belief was based on invisible spirits. (Land, p.
426) The highest of the spirits was known as the "Great Spirit."
Their belief was that the Great Spirit controlled animals, plants, people
and creation of people. (Land, p.426) There were other "lesser
supernatural" forces of good such as the Thunderer, The Spirit of The
Wind and the Three Sisters.(Land, p.426) Each aided separate aspects
of Iroqouis life. The Iroqois communicated with the lesser spirits
by burning tobacco and thanks were expressed in thanksgiving. (Land, p.426)
As in our religious beliefs today the Iroquois also believed in an evil
spirit who controlled some lesser spirits and was the reason for "bad"
brought to people or crops. (Land, p.426)
The Iroquois had leaders of religion known as the, "Keepers
of the Faith" chosen by female and male elders of the female lineage
and served when requested. (Land, p.426) Their duty was to arrange
and conduct ceremonies as well as to report serious transgressions to the
tribal council. (Land, p.427) The Iroquois had six major religious ceremonies
named, the Maple, Planting, Strawberry, Green Maize, Harvest and New Year's.
(Land, p.427) The first five are described as current day Christian
confessions. (Land, p.427) The ceremonies included speeches by the
Keeper of the Faith, social festivities and social dances and songs of thanksgiving.
(Land, p.427) The New Year festivities were held for seven days and were
designed to drive away evil spirits. (Land, p.428) Each day held a
certain ritual with symbolic meaning. Surprisingly, on the last day gambling
dominated. (Land, p.428) The seven days were intense religiously and the
end was set aside for entertainment as a "break" from the intensity.
(Land, p. 428)
The religious beliefs of the Iroquois resemble modern
day religion. Christianity is set up quite similar to the way in which
the Iroquois practiced and believed in the spirits. For Christians,
"God" is the "Great Spirit". The Saints resemble
the lesser Spirits of the Iroquois. The general belief system that
there is a "higher power" responsible for creation and guidance
of humans and nature is almost identical for Iroquois and today's Christianity
as well as Judaism. (Land, p.426) The ceremonies the Iroquois held
were much different but the general meanings they held for the people are
similar to Christian ceremonies such as Christmas and Easter. The Iroquois
"Keeper of the Faith" acted as a speaker much the same way a Priest
or Rabbi does today. (Land, p. 427) The religious beliefs of the Iroquois
as well as modern day religious beliefs, is an integral part of what holds
societies together.